Indicator



Oct. 18,1927. w F-DITTMAN 1,645,513

INDICATOR Filed Jan. 2, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet J,

INV TQR ATTORNEY Oct.

18, 1 F, DITTMAN I INDICATOR FiledJan. 2, 1936 Sheets-She et 2 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

UNITED sures WILLIAM F. DI'T'T'MAN, or unscrew, NEW .rn'nsEY, nss'renon 'ro E'IiEvA'ron surrLrEs doMrANY, 1110;, or nonojxnn,

JERSEY. m

new JERSEY, A CORPORATION on NEW INDICATOR.

Application filed J anuary am aware, an entirely novel and unique de vice of this nature, having a single composite indicating symbol capable of giving directly opposite signals alternately, or in response to a predetermined mode of opera-- tion.

One embodiment of my invent on, as it is preferably applied to a signal lantern for giving directlonal signals for an elevator.

for example, will now be described with ref er-ence to. the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals illustrate like partsand I Fig. 1 is a view-of the outer casing with top removed, showing the glass inserts thru which the indications appear.

Fig. 2 shows the lantern in perspective with the outer casing removed. 1

Figs. 3,4 and 5are respectively front, side and plan views of the lantern on a reduced scale with the outer casingrem'oved.

Fig. 6 is a picture of one of the two indications produced with my device.

Referring to Fig. 1, the reference character 1 indicates generally the outer casing, which is preferably, though not necessarlly, constructed of one rectangular piece of metal, so bent as to assume the shape of a triangular prism, with the intersection between the two lateral faces 2 and '3 rounded. as shown at 4, the whole adapted to be placed flush against a wall or other support.

From each of the lateral faces 2 and 3 there is cut out a portion preferably rectangular in shape. Inserted in these cut out portions are plates 5 and 6 constructed of a type of translucent glass or other material which will permitpassage therethrough of the rays of light from an incandescent lamp. Each of these plates is supported in place by a 2, 1926. Serial No. 78,744.

frame, one ofwhich frames can besee-n in Fig. 1, designated by numeral I On the inner side of each glass insert is placed a plate of sheet metal or other opaque substance, the outline of which appears in,

dash lines in. Fig. 1, designated by numeral 9. Cut out of the center of thismetal plate is a piece having the shape of a doubleheaded arrow, as indicated in dash lines in Fig. 1, and the effect of which will presently appear.

It is to be understood. in connection with the above description that while the translucent plates 5 and 6 allow passage therethrough of the light rays from an incandescent lamp, they are not constructed of a transparent glass and consequently the outline of the double headed arrow is not discernible through these plates, and could not be made so except by providing an intensified and unobstructed light in the interior of the device.

Figure 2 shows the inner construction of the lantern. This comprises three horizontal Partitions 13 and14 are so spaced in rela-- 'tion to the cut-out portion of the opaque plates '9 as to have the central portion (the stem) of the arrow. embraced thereby, the

edges of these partitions, or at least so much ofthem as shows thru the cut-out portion of plate 9, being shown by dash lines 17 and 18 in Fig. 1. These partitions 13 and 14 pass thru horizontal partition 11, cutting the latter into 3 sections, 11,11", and a central section which is removed, thus forming a single central chamber designated by numeral 27 in Fig. 4.

Eachof these partitions 13, 14 and 15 has a pair of circular holes, each just large enough to receive an electric light bulb. These pairs ofholes are designated respectively by numerals 20, 21 and 22, and the bulbs are shown in outline at 23 and 2i.

(Fig. 4:) as they will appear in place.

From an inspection of Fig. 4t it will be apparent that when the lamp 23 is illuminated, upper chambers 25 and 26, and central champartitions 10, 11 and 12, eachof the same i her 27 will be flooded with light, but chambers 28 and 29 will remain dark, the light thereto being cut off by the partitions 11, 11 13 and 14.

Likewise it will be apparent that when lamp 24 is lighted (lamp 23 now being dark) lower chambers 28 and 29 and central cham ber 27 will be flooded with light, while chamhere 25 and 26 will remain dark.

The effect of the former operation will be to allow the light rays to pass thru the upper arrow head, and the vertical stem (as shown best in Fig. 6), while the eifect of the latter operation is to allow the light to pass thru the lower arrow head and the vertical stem. Each of these operations will cause the corresponding portions of transulucent plates 5 and 6 to become illuminated, thus producing by the alternate lighting of the lamps 23 and 24, the opposite indications desired.

I have now described and illustrated one embodiment of my invention in which opposite illuminated signals are obtained thru a single composite character, and by the use of only two lamps, the same number of lamps as has always been employed in the elevator art to give the same result (see patents toCollett #700,619 patented May 20,-

02, and to Smally & Reiners #691,220 patented Oct. 3, 1899).

I do not, however, mean to limit myself to this specific embodiment, as the principle involved can readily be embodied in other constructions and uses. I therefore limit my self only by the broad scope of the invention as disclosed herein, and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 7 v

1. In a device of the class described, a casing having a translucent surface, a pair of lamps in said casing, means for causing the appearance of one of two overlapping unbroken designs on said surface upon the illumination of one of said lamps, said means comprising two dividing partitions extending longitudinally of said casing, cut-out portions in each partition to permit them to fit snugly against both said lamps, said partitions serving to divide said easing into a central chamber and two side chambers, and a partition extending transversely thru each of said side chambers at a point substantially mid-way between said lamps for confining the light rays of one lamp to those portions of said truslucent surface embraced by the central chamber and those portions of the twoside chambers lying on one side of said transverse partitions, said partitions furbroken designs on said surface upon the illumination of one of said lamps, said means comprising two dividing partitions extending longitudinally of said casing, cut-out portions in each partition to permit them to fit snugly against both said lamps, said partitions serving to divide said casing into a central chamber and two side chambers, and a partition extending transversely thru each of said side chambers at a point substantially midway between said lamps to divide each of said side chambers into two sub-chambers, said partitions serving to confine the light rays of one lamp to the central chamber and the two sub-chambers adjacent said lamp, and serving further to confine the rays of the other lamp to the said central chamber and the other two sub-chambers, as and for the purpose set forth.

Signed at Hoboken, New Jersey, this 28th day of December, 1925.

7 WILLIAM F.DITTMAN. 

